'Grand Theft Auto V' improves with age (review)

This publicity photo released by Rockstar Games shows a screen shot from the video game, "Grand Theft Auto V." (AP Photo/Rockstar Games)

After spending 22 of the past 24 hours playing "Grand Theft Auto V," I feel numb.

It's not exactly the brightest idea I've had (I realized this at hour 15), but I wanted to play enough of the game to have an opinion on it, even if it left me feeling exhausted, headachy and exhilarated. (A full review is coming online -- I've got about 20 more hours to play.) Rockstar North makes enormous games, and attempting to play one all in a day is like trying to swallow the ocean.

From the outset, "Grand Theft Auto V" has shown that it's already better than its predecessor. The title polishes the ideas of "Grand Theft Auto IV" and updates it to the post-Great Recession world of smartphones and social networking.

Those tech details are built into the fabric of the story and setting, but this time around, the team has incorporated those elements into the gameplay as well.

Players can download an iFruit companion app on iOS devices that connects to the game, letting players mod their vehicles and care for the in-game dog named Chop. They also can share photos through Rockstar North's Social Club website or through Facebook. They're both forward-thinking moves.

At the same time, the team changed up the core mechanic of a sandbox world by introducing an ensemble cast. "Grand Theft Auto V" stars three protagonists: Michael De Santa, an expert thief; Franklin Clinton, an ambitious upstart; and Trevor Philip, a violent sociopath. At first, the campaign follows the three separately, but soon after, they team up -- and the beauty of Rockstar North's decision emerges.

Advertisement

Players can switch among the trio at any time, and they will see Michael, Franklin and Trevor go about their daily lives. If they get tired of playing with one character, they can move on to another. The idea works astonishingly well during complex, multilayered heists. That's when the trio and hand-picked operatives work together to pull off multimillion-dollar robberies.

The plot puts the protagonists in different spots, and as the elaborate plan unfolds, players can jump among the three characters. In one operation, Franklin is the sniper and covers Michael as he plants a bomb on a cargo ship. When the situation goes haywire, players can switch to Franklin and pick off foes who were converging on Michael. Meanwhile, Trevor is in a submarine planning to retrieve the prize in the ship when it sinks. It's clever and reinforces the "Ocean's Eleven"-type of mission design.

Another area where this sequel prevails over its predecessor is in its vision. The previous game starring Niko Bellic was muddled. Players had to adjust to its serious tone and big ideas that never coalesced into anythingmemorable. In "Grand Theft Auto V," there's more thematic clarity as the campaign focuses on the financial crisis, thievery and the rich abusing power. Rockstar North focuses on these issues while delivering some humor in its satire of celebrity, gadgets and the worst of American culture.

With that being said, I have to warn parents about buying "Grand Theft Auto V." The game gets dark, and there are disturbing moments that are not for kids. Fans should expect to see a lot of the male form, adult situations and some gruesome, disturbing moments with torture.